November 2, 2016

"Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday that Australia is considering joint naval patrols with Indonesia in the South China Sea. She claimed Indonesia proposed joint patrols last week and the request was consistent with Australia's policies of exercising the right to freedom of navigation. The proposal has no intention to disrupt the relationship with China; it is called a peace patrol and is about protecting fish in each other's areas, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu was quoted as saying by Australian media.   

Despite the explanation, their joint patrol plan was immediately linked to the complicated South China Sea situation and is considered to have connotations that are not explicitly stated by the two sides. It's self-evident that their plan is stirring up anew the South China Sea situation, which had been calming down. We have reason to suspect that Australia is interested in doing so and the US is highly likely to be behind the scenes. On the South China Sea arbitration, Australia has left the impression of completely siding with the US."

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http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1015315.shtml

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